STRENGTHS:

+ Decision making
+ Evasion
+ Ground balls
+ Kicking
+ Work rate

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Four-quarter consistency
- Kick-to-handball ratio

Pegged as one to watch by Sandringham staff in the preseason, Johnston was quick to draw the eyes of recruiters. In the early stages of the season, his cleanliness around the ground and ability to create scoring opportunities as a forward stood out most at Coates Talent League level. As the APS season started and the Dragons squad changed face, Johnston got more opportunity to show off his abilities in the midfield. He brought the same sense of cleanliness through the contest, demonstrating a good sense of composure when winning the ball at the coal face.

Johnston played more as a forward than midfielder at the National Championships and took advantage of the higher level of delivery, acting as a dangerous high half-forward who picked out teammates closer to goal. However, his best game at the Championships was as a near full-time midfielder against WA, registering 29 disposals, six marks, five tackles and six clearances

Johnston boasts an impressive skillset heading into the next level and is well suited for multiple roles, with his decision making and ball use two stand out attributes. His priority with ball in hand generally focused on getting it to a teammate in space; whether that’s by handing it off to a runner from congestion, or looking to hit a forward target in the corridor. His team first approach has been critical in his ability to impact games more than his raw disposal numbers suggest.

Noted as a strong runner, Johnston’s work rate around the ground is exceptional, involving himself to the defensive and offensive side of the game by applying pressure around the contest when opposition win it, or spreading hard to be an option for teammates with the same intensity.

Whilst Johnston is a good kick, there were only three occasions throughout the Talent League season where he used the ball by foot more than he used it by hand, two of those times coming in finals. That balance remains an area of his game he could look to work on, as he does have the athletic traits to move out of traffic, drive his legs and utilise his sharp kicking on the outside.